New York Yankees Pitcher Hideki Irabu Found Dead Of Apparent Suicide After Wife & Kids Left.

Hideki, who joined the Yankees 14 years ago, is found hanged in a LA home.

The New York Yankees suffered a tragic loss July 27 when former pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead in a suburban Los Angeles home. The New York Timesreports, “Lt. Fred Corral of the Coroner’s Investigative Division of Los Angeles County said Thursday that Irabu had apparently hanged himself in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes. A friend discovered the body on Wednesday afternoon.” So sad.

Hideki had been deeply troubled of recent, assaulting a bartender in 2008 and being arrested on drunk driving charges two years later. His wife had recently left him along with their two children. It is still uncertain if it was in fact Hideki’s home he was found in.

Hideki was signed in 1997 to a $12.8 million contract, an amount unheard of at the time given he had never pitched in the major leagues. He would go on to later play for the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers.

Neighbors report he had become despondent of recent following his split. What a tragic loss.